Method of erecting scaffolds.



No. 763,275. PATENTED'JUNE 21, 1904. G. POSTER.

METHOD OF EREGTING SGAFPOLDS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

attoznut UNITED STATES "Patented June 21, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLAIR FOSTER, OF DOUGLASTON, NEW YORK.

METHOD OF ERECTING SCAFFOLDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763.275, dated June 21, 1904:.

Application filed February 23. 1904. Serial No. 194,784. (No model.)

To all whmn it Harry concern:

Be it known that I, CLAIR FOSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Douglaston, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Method of Erecting Scaffolds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention'relates to scaffolds employed by masons and other workmen in the erecting of buildings, and has for its object to improve the method of erecting the same, the invention being particularly applicable to scaffolds used in the construction of modern types of steel-frame buildings of great height where the suspending means for the platforms are of great length. In the construction of such buildings it is customary and often desirable to start the masonry-work before the steel frame is entirely erected and to carryit on at two or more levels simultaneously, and it has heretofore been customary, when this is done, to set up independent scaffolds for each level of masonry construction.

I have invented ,a new form of scaffold (which is the subject-matter of a pending application filed by me March 18, 1903, Serial No. Eli-3,337) that comprises flexible suspending means (such as steel cables) for the platforms of a length equal to the full height of the scaffold and supports to which these suspending-cables may be secured; and my present invention consists of a method of erecting a scaffold in which such elements are employed.

My invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, largely diagrammatic in its character, of a steelframe building in the course of erection, my scaffold being represented as applied for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the building further advanced, the steel framework being completed, a stage in the erection of the scaffold beyond that shown in Fig. 1 being illustrated. Fig. 3 is a similar view to the others, showing the building nearer completion and indicating another stage in the method of erecting and manipulating the scaffold.

Fig. 2) takes place.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates the outriggers, which maybe of any usual or preferred construction, to which are secured the cables 3. To these are adjustably secured the platforms 4:. The outriggers are secured in any suitable way to the framework of the building, as by means of the clamps 5, and the cables are attached to the outriggers and the platforms to the cables by means which it is not necessary in this case to describe in detail, they being fully illustrated and described in my aforesaid application.

In Fig. 1 a building of sixteen stories is represented in the process of erection, the iron framework having been carried up eleven stories and it being desirable at this stage to begin the filling in with masonry at two or more levels below at the same time that the further erection of the iron framework is going on. To permit this, a series of outriggers is secured to the framework at the highest available levelin the case indicated at the eleventh floorand from these outriggers are suspended the cables 3, to which are secured the platforms, the latter being adjustable upon the cables, so as to permit them to be situated at any level desired. The cables selected for use are of a length equal to the full height of the building, or, more strictly speaking, of the completed scaffold that may be required. They are secured to the supports indicated in Fig. 1, which I term the level A, at points intermediate their length, the parts of the cables above the supports being coiled, as indicated at 6, or otherwise disposed of so as to be out of the way. When the framework of the building has been completed and it is desired to attach platforms to the suspending-cables of the scaffold at levels higher than the level A, the next step in the course of erecting the scaffold (indicated in This consists in arranging another set of supports at a higher level in this case at the sixteenth floor-which I term the level B. These supports are situated in the same vertical plane as the supports at the level below. The parts of the cables arranged above the supports at the level A and which have been conveniently coiled are now extended upward to the supports at the level B, to which they are secured, any surplus cable being coiled, as indicated, or otherwise disposed of so as not to interfere with the work. The cables are now supported at two levels, and to the portions below the supports at the level B are secured platforms. Before the platforms are secured to the cables above the level A, I prefer that they should be disconnected from the lower series of supports, (though this is not essential,) so that they shall be suspended from the supports at the level B only, and this is indicated in Fig. 3.

It is evident that the building up or extending of the scaffold from one set of supports to another may be carried on indefinitely, the particular arrangement illustrated in the drawings being chosen only to indicate one practical method of carrying out my invention.

Some of the advantages incident to my invention may be referred to. By its use I am enabled to employ a single set of suspending meansthat is, a set of suspending means of a length equal to the entire height of the scaffold or of the structure being constructed upon which may be supported any desired number of platforms arranged at any desired levels. This set of suspending means may be put into use when the building is but partially erected and successively extended upward and secured to suitable supports, and this is done without interfering with the platforms which may already be in place. The platforms are easily removable from as well as adjustable along the continuous suspending means.

1 do not claim herein the scaffold which I have illustrated and described, that being the subject of claims in my aforesaid application, but only the method of erecting the same.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The method of erecting a scaffold herein described, which consists in providing a set of flexible suspending means of a length equal to the entire height of the intended scaffold, placing a series of independent supports arranged in substantially the same vertical plane but at different levels, attaching the suspending means at points intermediate their ends to supports at one level, extending the suspending means upward to supports at a higher level and securing them thereto, and securing to the suspending means platforms, substantially as set forth.

2. The method of erecting a scaffold herein described, which consists in providing flexible suspending means of a length equal to the height of the complete scaffold to be produced, placing a series of independent supports arranged in substantially the same vertical plane but at different levels, securing the suspending means at points intermediate their ends to the supports at a relatively low level from which they depend, extendingv the suspending means upward to a set of supports at a higher level and securing them thereto, then releasing the suspending means from the supports at the lower level,and securing platforms to the supports at the desired places, substantially as set forth.

CL A I R FOSTER.

Witnesses:

U. A. STARRETT, I. C. G. \VILuINs. 

